Friday’s World Darts Championship tips: MVG and Stephen Bunting to dish out Ally Pally classic

The Rock versus Steve Austin. Barcelona versus Real Madrid. Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier. The sporting world has seen many gargantuan battles over the years but Friday’s heavyweight showdown between Michael van Gerwen and Stephen Bunting could consign them all into the shadows of history.

If you’re a true darting connoisseur, you understand. Your body already covered in goosebumps at the very thought of what may transpire on the Ally Pally stage.

Your average man in the street may not understand the true phenomenon which may materialise on the world’s greatest oche. Most don’t yet realise the potential sporting majesty and grandeur which may unfold.

To those who laugh, I say this. He who laughs last, laughs best. When you’re sitting there drooling over the TV screen after one of the greatest tungsten confrontations in history, don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Friday’s Match Schedule

Afternoon Session
Damon Heta vs Berry van Peer
Jonny Clayton vs Krzysztof Ratajski
Jim Williams vs Raymond van Barneveld

Evening Session
Boris Krcmar vs Gary Anderson
Michael van Gerwen vs Stephen Bunting
Michael Smith vs Chris Dobey

Seven sets. Six darts. Two world champions. MVG against Bunting has got ‘classic’ written all over it.

Both men enter this potential slobberknocker with perfect records to their name.

Van Gerwen kicked off his world championship campaign with a 3-0 victory over Keane Barry and followed it up with a 4-0 demolition of fellow Dutchman Richard Veenstra.

Bunting is also 7-0 in sets. The Bullet made Ryan Joyce look like a two-week rookie in the opening round before dispatching Florian Hempel to the loser’s corner less than a week later.

Both Bunting and Van Gerwen averaged 101 in their last match. Both men were over 50% on the doubles. Both are really enjoying themselves on the Alexandra Palace stage.

With margins thinner than Deontay Wilder’s legs, don’t expect us to pick a winner between these two behemoths. Instead, we recommend backing over 5.5 sets at around the 4/6 mark.

In a match which may force the participants to produce moments of magic, backing the highest checkout to be over 140.5 points is another option in the betting.

In the afternoon session, Raymond van Barneveld will be looking to wind back the clock in his third-round clash with Jim Williams.

The Welshman sensationally knocked out Peter Wright in his Ally Pally opener. Though considering Snakebite was averaging 83, it’s fair to say that most of our Planet Sport writers would’ve given the Scot a close game on that day.

Barneveld averaged just shy of 100 in his 3-1 win over Poland’s Radoslav Szaganski as the five-time world champion turned on the style.

If Barney can replicate similar form, he should have few problems in getting over the line. With that in mind, RVB to win at 20/21 is the way to go.

Lastly, we have to mention our ‘dark horse’ Damon Heta. The Aussie was far from his best against Martin Lukeman last time out, though that didn’t stop him getting a solid 3-1 win.

Heat takes on Berry van Peer on Friday in what could become a tricky test for the world cup winner.

Nevertheless, Heta has won the last three head-to-heads with the Dutchman and we’re backing the Australian to win 4-2 at 4/1.

Suggested bets

MVG vs Bunting: Over 5.5 sets – 4/6

MVG vs Bunting: Highest checkout over 140/5 – Evs

Williams vs RVB: Barneveld to win – 20/21

Heta vs Van Peer: Heta to win 4-2 – 4/1